The wrong system locale is installed when you run the Out Of Box Experience (OOBE) Wizard on a Windows Vista-based computer

When you run the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) Wizard on a Windows Vista-based computer, you have the option to select a language in the Time and currency format box. When you do this, the system locale is unexpectedly set to the same language. This behavior occurs regardless of the language that you select in the Language to install box.

For example, if you select German in the Time and currency Format box, and you select English in the Language to install box, the system locale is set to German. Therefore, some programs may display a German user interface, and some programs may also use German settings.

Note The system-locale setting determines the language that is used to display the text in menus and in dialog boxes for programs that do not use Unicode. You may have to change the default system locale when you install additional display languages on your computer. When you select a different language for the system locale, this does not affect the language in menus and in dialog boxes for Windows or for other programs that do use Unicode.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

To work around this problem, change the system-locale setting. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Regional and Language Options.
2. Click the Administrative tab, and then click Change system locale under Language for non-Unicode programs.
3. Select the language that you want, and then click OK.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
4. Restart the computer when you are prompted to do this.

For more information about the difference between the system locale and the user locale, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: